How often do you guys get grabbed for car support?

[Ferret]

Kinda getting fed up of being phoned to car break downs now! Seriously, if you let your mates know you're good with cars, how often do you guys get a phonecall with a plea for help?

This was an E34 in distress! So I went out to have a 'quick' look - 5 hours later still not got it running properly. 520i bog standard spec w/vanos.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/pete/DSC00065.jpg
Check out the steelies, and the lack of fog lights!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/pete/DSC00061.jpg

Fault 1: Exploded radiator!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/pete/DSC00062.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/pete/DSC00063.jpg

This turns out to be a symptom not a fault, unlike I first thought. Dismantled the expansion tank out of the radiator quickly and found a huge crack in the side of the radiator where the top expansion tank bleeder plugs in.

Quick trip to B&Q for some 5 minute epoxy resin and that problem's now fixed!

Got it all back together at the side of the road and the b*stards still overheating!

I *think* the _cause_ of all this trouble is that the pumps imploded - the radiator top hose gets boiling hot, but the bottom hose stays stone cold.

This implies that the thermostat's open as hot water's rising to the top of the system under convection etc. What really gives this away is that with the heaters on full, you get no heat and the hoses going into the firewall/bulkhead are stone cold... this indicates a lack of flow I think?

What do you guys think?

Going to tow the bugger home this morning and pull the waterpump and see what state it's in, I know the visco coupling is shot, but the lack of hot water to the heater is giving me that twitch!

[whiskychaser]

Fault 1: Exploded radiator!

This turns out to be a symptom not a fault, unlike I first thought. Dismantled the expansion tank out of the radiator quickly and found a huge crack in the side of the radiator where the top expansion tank bleeder plugs in.

Quick trip to B&Q for some 5 minute epoxy resin and that problem's now fixed!

Got it all back together at the side of the road and the b*stards still overheating!

I *think* the _cause_ of all this trouble is that the pumps imploded - the radiator top hose gets boiling hot, but the bottom hose stays stone cold.

This implies that the thermostat's open as hot water's rising to the top of the system under convection etc. What really gives this away is that with the heaters on full, you get no heat and the hoses going into the firewall/bulkhead are stone cold... this indicates a lack of flow I think?

What do you guys think?

Going to tow the bugger home this morning and pull the waterpump and see what state it's in, I know the visco coupling is shot, but the lack of hot water to the heater is giving me that twitch!
Before you rip the pump out, bleed the system through the bleeder on top of the rad. I find it best at a slightly fast idle. No circulation to heater is classic air lock symptom. If you can get all the air out in less than half an hour you are doing well. I've had to switch off many times in the past as the needle was going too high while I was bleeding the system. And yes, I get my fair share of calls. My favourite is 'my car is making a funny noise....':(

[Dave M]

Got it all back together at the side of the road and the b*stards still overheating!

I *think* the _cause_ of all this trouble is that the pumps imploded - the radiator top hose gets boiling hot, but the bottom hose stays stone cold.

This implies that the thermostat's open as hot water's rising to the top of the system under convection etc. What really gives this away is that with the heaters on full, you get no heat and the hoses going into the firewall/bulkhead are stone cold... this indicates a lack of flow I think?

What do you guys think?

Going to tow the bugger home this morning and pull the waterpump and see what state it's in, I know the visco coupling is shot, but the lack of hot water to the heater is giving me that twitch!

Agree, this sounds very waterpumpish. Won't take you long to pull the pump and figure it out.

Question: When you bled the system after the rad replacement, how well (if at all) was the coolant flowing through the expansion tank? It should be a nice steady steam, especially under partial throttle. Oh, and jacking up the front end as high as possible while bleeding really helps the M50s.

Good luck with it,

Dave

[Dave M]

Oh, forgot to add that my wife wants me to start charging for repairs as I spend a fair amount of time in my garage working on other peoples $hit :D

Dave

[Ferret]

Maha!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/pete/DSC00067.jpg

Shame it's a sunday, cant get a replacement!

Looks fairly clean inside:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/pete/DSC00068.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/pete/DSC00069.jpg

Will get a metal replacement, this one was just spinning on the shaft, and because it had expanded was just stuck, not rotating!

It had bled up fine yesterday, just not pumping the water!

[Dave M]

You might still get something for that on ebay ;)

Nice easy fix, good job,

Dave

[whiskychaser]

Good call going for the water pump. I'd probably still be trying to bleed it:D

[shadowpuck]

on an m50 its always best, though, to suspect either the pump or air in the system....
seems like it is always one or the other....

a while back we changed a bunch of cooling hoses, radiator, etc. on my wife's 525 and couldn't get rid of a persistent leak right at the lower radiator hose below the expansion tank. finally turned out to be a tiny hole in the hose itself; sometimes even new parts aren't good! :)

and, yes, i do get calls quite often - its either for a car or a computer....both sometimes equally frustrating!

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

If you cant take a joke,leave Reading and join the Mormons! Oh, and loose all friends with E34`s.

[whiskychaser]

If you cant take a joke,leave Reading and join the Mormons! Oh, and loose all friends with E34`s.

Wow! They dont have Mormons in Reading?

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

Wow! They dont have Mormons in Reading?
Depends on how you pronounce the word! It would be more accurate with a spelling mistake.

[whiskychaser]

Depends on how you pronounce the word! It would be more accurate with a spelling mistake.
Trouble at mill.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

loose all friends with E34`s.

My house looks like a home for wayward BMWs

[Ross]

Not so often anymore but LOTS when I was younger. Mostly now I'm asked to consult before repairs by others. I've finally managed to wean one particular cheapskate who had no qualms about calling for roadside service and then not even offering anything. No need for "friends" like that.

[Ferret]

Not so often anymore but LOTS when I was younger. Mostly now I'm asked to consult before repairs by others. I've finally managed to wean one particular cheapskate who had no qualms about calling for roadside service and then not even offering anything. No need for "friends" like that.

Said person with this E34 is starting to p*ss me off now, this is the second car in three months he's brought to me broken! It's seriously taking the p*ss, I only went out because it's an E34!

[Ferret]

Not so often anymore but LOTS when I was younger. Mostly now I'm asked to consult before repairs by others. I've finally managed to wean one particular cheapskate who had no qualms about calling for roadside service and then not even offering anything. No need for "friends" like that.

Said person with this E34 is starting to p*ss me off now, this is the second car in three months he's brought to me broken! It's seriously taking the p*ss, I only went out because it's an E34!

[Ross]

encourage him to buy a car you can't service.
My "friend" is also a notorious neglector of all things mechanical. He will drive a car to utter failure after all the warnings have been delivered by the car, myself and others. I have run out of compassion for his plight on the the last predicted breakdown. He also can WELL afford to maintain his vehicles at the going shop rate.

[whiskychaser]

Said person with this E34 is starting to p*ss me off now, this is the second car in three months he's brought to me broken! It's seriously taking the p*ss, I only went out because it's an E34!

I adopted a new stance a while back - I now say 'you wont learn unless you do it. I will watch to make sure you dont make a total f...k up of it' . Then if they do turn up its you with the feet up drinking the tea. Its easier than saying outright 'no' and you get a laugh when THEY sheer bolts and get spanner rash:D

[Dave M]

I adopted a new stance a while back - I now say 'you wont learn unless you do it. I will watch to make sure you dont make a total f...k up of it' . Then if they do turn up its you with the feet up drinking the tea. Its easier than saying outright 'no' and you get a laugh when THEY sheer bolts and get spanner rash:D

This is the way to go.

A good friend bought a nice e39 touring, got understandably excited, and decided to take care of a bunch of maintenance items. We ordered a water pump, belts, fan clutch, 02 sensors, fuel filter, plugs, coil boots etc and planned to go at it. He says "this shouldn't take more than a couple of hours huh?" I said "well, number one, I've never worked on an e39 and two, you're doing the wrenching, so don't plan on being home for lunch" He's a carpenter, so knows his way around 'tools', but it was funny watching him get the blue shower when he drained the coolant :D I literally sat there and drank tea while reading the bentley and pointing at tools. He couldn't believe how much time the little things like getting the car in the air and draining fluids can take.

Someone else for a change............

Dave

[Ferret]

I think this is the way to go too, time to be a technical advisor instead!

Trouble is that I actually enjoy working on the cars to the point where it's only after I've fixed it that I realise that I've been taken for a ride!